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Mozilla, Microsoft unite against Google Chrome frame

by Sylvie Barak on 30 September 2009, 10:03

Tags: Firefox, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Mozilla

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"As a side effect, the user's understanding of the Web's security model and the behavior of their browser is seriously hindered by delegating the choice of software to the developers of individual sites they visit," wrote Shaver, claiming Chrome Frame will befuddle users' understanding of Web security.

"It is a problem that we have seen repeatedly with other stack plug-ins like Flash, Silverlight and Java, and not one that I think we need to see replayed again under the banner of HTML5," he said.

Google, however, claims Chrome Frame is perfect for anyone still running older versions of Internet Explorer - which is still prevalent on most PCs - who want to run complex web apps like Google's latest service, Google Wave.

But Shaver has some more practical advice than messing around adding Google Frames to an IE browser. If you want something to run on Chrome, just download Chrome.

"The user would be educated about the benefits of an alternate browser, would understand better the choice they were making, and the kudos for Chrome's performance would accrue to Google rather than to Microsoft," he said.

Hmmm... so maybe Shaver isn't defending Microsoft so much after all.

 


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Posted by directhex - Wed 30 Sep 2009 10:06
Hypocrites.

http://ietab.mozdev.org/
Posted by dangel - Wed 30 Sep 2009 10:20
Bit shortsighted there bud - especially given Google's motives.
Posted by aidanjt - Wed 30 Sep 2009 11:17
Microsoft is just mad that someone else is pegging on their Embrace, Extend, & Extinguish policy.

Besides, IE6 & co. are already giant gaping security holes, I don't see how popping Chrome into IE is going to make IE any worse than it already is.
Posted by Mathonar - Wed 30 Sep 2009 12:37
directhex
Hypocrites.

http://ietab.mozdev.org/

I was thinking that but reading his actual comments there's a couple of things that are slightly different

IETab isn't written by Mozilla - although granted i don't recall them having a go about it for making Firefox insecure.

IETab is enabled by the user when they want it or on a site by site basis.

I think Mike Shavers comments appear to be more directed at the automated method of swapping to the chrome engine that is not under the users control.

At the minute the user has to install the Chrome Frame manually anyway so it's not like someone should be unaware of what's going on.
That could change if it eventually becomes part of the Chrome install by default but then that mitigates the other comment by Mike Shaver about just installing Chrome.

I see the biggest confusion for an end user likely occurring on a system that they bought where it was installed by default.
Posted by latrosicarius - Mon 05 Oct 2009 22:58
A few thoughts:

1.) I can't believe that Mozilla, company representing free, open, & continuous improvement of internet development could have something against this kind R&D done by Google.

2.) Users who are still forced to use IE6 are obviously not going to be allowed to install this addon by their IT department. Hell, the probably don't have Administrative rights to their systems. And the IE department is certainly not going to push for Chrome Frame to be installed, since they, or their corporate executive overlords, are the ones stupidly insisting upon IE6.

3.) Anyone who is able to install Google Frame into IE6, and who knows of the downsides to using IE6 in this day and age, will most likely just opt to use the full version of Google Chrome or another browser. Actually, let me rephrase that… anyone who is even aware of Chrome Frame would probably already be using another browser, if they are able.

4.) IETab is not the same as Chrome Frame. IETab is a modification for Firefox that alters the way Firefox works (allowing it to use the IE engine which is available for any application to use – e.g. Valve's Steam, for instance).

Chrome Frame is an modification to Microsoft's product by another company. Do you think Microsoft is happy that the words “Microsoft Internet Explorer” appear on their browser, but the guts of the browser are controlled by Google? What if somebody took over your body, committed a crime, and then left you to deal with the authorities? (Although, granted: I don't think MS has much to worry about with regard to Chrome making IE less secure.)

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